Tahs insist Brumbies can be caught - Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

Senior Waratahs figures insist their struggling side can still catch runaway Super rugby leaders the Brumbies, despite conceding a huge early advantage to the Canberra-based franchise.

The Brumbies lead the overall table by six points and are ten clear of their closest Australian conference rivals Queensland, who have played one more game.

The Force, Rebels and Waratahs are all 14 points behind the Brumbies, with NSW last on points for and against.

"The Brumbies can be caught, nothing is ever sure in rugby," Waratahs assistant coach Alan Gaffney told AAP.

"We will be chasing them."

NSW skipper Dave Dennis said the Waratahs were more than capable of reeling in the Brumbies.

"We haven't started so well, but it doesn't rule everything out," Dennis said.

"We still have to play them again, which will be a key game."

Gaffney said NSW remained a work in progress and it would take time for them to throw off the stylistic shackles of previous years.

"Some players have been regimented in the way they've played over a period of time," Gaffney said.

"But now they are being given a lot of freedom.

"As yet, we haven't totally seized that freedom, but it will happen."

Beaten in three of their four games, NSW face another testing task in Sydney on Sunday against a resurgent Blues side.

"I think they are a good young side," Dennis said of the Blues, who have won two of their three games and are running fourth overall.

"There's plenty of new faces that are hungry to play and they pose plenty of threats across the field.

"That area of execution and holding onto the ball is going to be key this week, because if we don't, there's plenty of guys in their team that can punish us."

Gaffney said new Blues coach and legendary All Blacks winger Sir John Kirwan, was doing a lot of good things at the Auckland club.

"They've still got that ability to play a very expansive game, but he's put a bit of discipline within them," Gaffney said.

"Last year it seemed to me they were playing sevens on a constant basis.

"This time they are playing a lot more regulated."